Integrated bottom ring and attaching clip unit



Jan. 30, 1962 J. c. CARPENTER INTEGRATED BOTTOM RING AND ATTACHING CLIP UNIT Filed May l5, 1959 3,018,527 KNTEGRATED BTTOM RING AND AT'lfACHlNG CLIP UNIT Joel-C. Carpenter, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, assigner to Oglehay Norton Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 15, 1959, Ser. No. 813,573 12 Claims. (Cl. 22--147) This invention relates to integrated single use refractory bottom ring and attaching clip units adapted to be connected to the lower ends of full floating reusable hot tops and to the method of forming said units and to the construction of the ring mold or box for forming said units.

Hot tops are employed in the casting of metal ingots. The hot tops are positioned in the open upper ends of the ingot molds and molten metal is poured into the molds in a quantity such as to ill the molds and provide sinkheads in the hot tops as is well understoodin the art.

The reusable full floating hot tops comprise metal casings having suitable refractory linings while refractory single use bottom rings are secured to the lower ends of the casings, as is well understood in the art. The refractory bottom rings have been attached heretofore to the lower ends of the casings by means of Wire spring attaching clips that are separate from` the rings. These wire spring clips are formed in the shape of the letter L and are provided at the upper end of the vertical leg with a hook which engages in a recess or hollow bushing located in the casing.

The horizontal portion of the clip underlies the bottom ring and the free end of this horizontal portion of the clip is provided with `an upturned portion which engages in a recess formed intheinner sideofthe bottom ring.

The clips are individually attached to the rings and casings each time that the hot tops are pre-pared for a pouring operation. Usually at least one or more clips for each side of rectangular bottom rings and casings are required and hence-at least four of these separate clips must be positioned and attached to Such bottom` rings and casings during the preparation. of the. hot tops. The wire clips being separate from the bottom rings mustA be separately packaged, shipped and stored and, as above stated, must be separately handled andv attached individually when installing a new bottom ring in the preparation of a hot top for a pouring operation. Y

It is evident ythat the use ofthe separate clips necessitates time, labor `and expense in the preparation of the hot tops for metal pouring operations. Since the clips are separate from the bottom rings care must be exercised in properly securing the bottom rings to the casings by the separate clips since otherwise they bottom rings may become displaced relative to the casings, particularly when the hot tops are being lowered into the open ends of the ingot molds and are` not properly aligned withsaid open ends. The separate clips, because of the portion thereof locatedoutwardly of the Vplane of the outer side of the rings, require the. provision of additional space between the inner side of the ingot` molds and the outside of the bottom rings to accommodate the clips. This additional space increases the diculty ofsealing it off by the wiper strips and of preventing the formationof fins as the molten metal cools which would produce stickers and renderldiflicult the removal of the hottops from the molds and the sinkheads.

An object of the invention is to provide a bottom ring unit wherein the attaching clipsr are integrated with the ring during manufacture of the latter as distinguished from the ordinary bottom ring that is attached to the casing ofthe hotl top b y attachingr clips separate from the bottom ring.

Blz? Patented Jan. 30, 1962 Another object is to provide a unitary bottom ring and attaching clip construction which avoids the necessity of separately packaging, shipping, storing, handling and applying the bottom rings and clips, thus effecting economies in shipping, storage and handling costs.

Bottom rings must be made in different sizes depending upon the size of the hot top and since the separate attaching clips heretofore used embrace the bottom rings and extend from the inner side thereof beneath the rings and upwardly of the outer side, various sizes of attaching clips must be provided for the different sizes of bottom rings.

Another object of the present invention is to eliminate the necessity of providing different sizes of attaching clips for different sizes of bottom rings and to enable a single size attaching clip to be integrated with and to function universally on the various sizes of bottom rings.

A further object of theI invention is to provide an integrated bottom ring and attaching clip unit such that the bottom ring and attaching clip will not be accidentally disconnected during shipping, handling and use.

A still further object is to provide an integratedbottom ring and attaching clip unit such that even should the bottom ring be cracked or injured the attaching clip will remain integrated therewith and will still function to support the bottom ring on the lower end of the casing, of the hot top.

An additional object is to provide a bottom ring and attaching clip unit wherein the clip does not interfere in any way with the shipping and handling of the ring.

A still further object is to provide an integrated bottom ring and attaching clip unit such that the portions of the attaching clip on the outer side of the, ring are located within a recess in the outer side of the ring and hence the overall outside width of the ring can4 be increased so the space between the outside of the ring and the wall of the ingot mold is maintained 4at a minimum.

A further object is to provide a method for producing the single use integrated bottom ring and attaching clip unit.

Also an object is to provide a novel mold or box for forming the integrated bottom ring and attaching clip unit.

Further and additional objects and advantages not hereinbefore specifically referred to will become apparent during the detailed description which is to follow of an embodiment of the invention and which embodiment is illustrated in the `accompanying drawing forming part of this specification wherein,

FIG. l is a sectional view through, a hot top and the open upper end of an ingot mold in which the hot top is positioned, the hot top having secured to its lower end the integrated bottom ring and attaching clip unit of the present invention.

FlG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional and perspective view of a portion of the bottom ring box or mold in which the refractory bottom ring ismolded, the attaching clip and the reinforcing means of the integrated bottom ring being indicated in this FIGURE in broken lines and in the positions they occupy in the ring mold or box prior to the refractory material being placed therein. I

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the integrated bottom ring and attaching clip unit and shows the attaching clip in full lines in the inoperative position it has in the ring structure prior to use and in broken lines in the operativel position it has when swung upwardly to be engaged with the bushing in the hot top casing to hold the bottom ring in position on thelower end of the casing, the reinforcing means of the ring also being shown in lbroken lines.

FIG. 4 isL a fragmentary view showing a portion of 3 FIG. 3 but with the attaching clip shown in full lines in its raised or operative position.

FIG. 5 is a view on an enlarged scale of the lower left-hand portion of FIG. l, and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are fragmentary elevational views of the structure illustrating modied forms ofV reinforcingy means from the form of reinforcing means shown in the previous views.

Referring to FIG. l, the hot top shown therein comprises the usual metal casing which is illustrated as a two part casing, but it will be understood that the casing may be formed in one single piece. The casing 1t) at its lower end has an inwardly directed ledge 11 upon which the refractory inner lining 12 is supported and said lining is formed of suitable tirebrick as will be well understood by those skilled in the art. A refractory continuous bottom ring 13 interiits the lower end of the casing 10 and includes a planular surface portion 14 which underlies the lower end of the casing 1G including the ledge 11 and an upstanding flange portion 15 which extends up inside the inner end of the ledge 11 and has its upper surface underlying the refractory lining 12 as will be well understood.

Ordinarily the bottom ring 13 is secured to the casing 10 by means of separate attaching wire spring clips that are detachably connected to the inner side of the ring 'and the outer side of the casing and having a portion extending beneath the ring from the inner side to the outer side thereof as is well understood.

Heretofore in preparing the hot top for a pouring 'operation the bottom ring 13 is placed on the then inverted casing 10, the wiper strips 16 are inserted between the planular surface portion 14 of the ring and the end of the casing and the bottom ring and wiper strips are then attached to the casing 10 by the separate clips referred to, all of which is well known in the art.

Also it will be understood that in use the hot top is initially positioned within the open upper end of an ingot mold 17 and is held in this position by means of displaceable or heat destructible blocks (not shown). The molten metal is poured into the ingot mold 17 until the mold is filled and additional molten metal is then added to the hot top to provide an ingot sinkhead.

It will be understood that the bottom ring, the attaching clips and the wiper strips are single use elements and new elements must be applied to the hot top in preparing it for each subsequent pouring operation.

As previously referred to, at least one attaching clip for each side of the bottom ring is used so that at least four such attaching clips must be used for a rectangular bottom ring and hot top. As already stated, these separate attaching clips necessarily are packaged, shipped, handled and applied separately from the bottom rings and this fact increases costs, not only due to separate packaging, shipping and handling of the bottom rings and attaching clips, but also due to the necessity of separately operatively applying the attaching clips to the bottom rings to secure the latter to the casings.

It will be observed that where separate attaching clips are employed to hold the bottom rings to the casings of the hot tops there is danger that the crane operator in lowering the hot tops into the open ends of the ingot molds may inadvertently not have the hot tops in proper alignment with the molds and cause the separate attaching clips to strike the molds, resulting in displacement of the attaching clips with a probable loosening of the connection between the bottom rings and the hot top casings.

The description of the hot top thus far set forth in connection with FIG. l has been on the basis that the usual separate attaching clips were used to hold the bottom ring to the bottom end` of the casing of the hot top, in order to contrast the disadvantages thereof with the advantages resulting from the integrated bottom ring and 4 attaching clip unit embodying the invention and shown in FIG. l.

The method of producing the integrated bottom ring and attaching clip unit of the present invention, its construction, its functional mode and its advantages and also the construction of the ring box or mold will now be described.

In FIG. 2 a fragmentary portion is shown of the bottom ring mold or box in which the bottom ring is molded. It will be understood that the bottom ring mold or box indicated generally at 1S is continuous, that is, if the bottom ring is rectangular, for instance, the box will have four sides, each of which is of the construction shown in FIG. 2. The bottom ring mold or box is provided with a continuous channel cavity defined by side walls 19 and 29. The bottom 21 of the channel cavity produces the planular surface portion 14 of the bottom ring. The bottom 21 of the continuous channel cavity adjacent the wall 19 is provided with a continuous depressed supplemental cavity 22 to produce the rib 15 of the bottom ring 13.

The present invention contemplates integrating with the bottom ring 13 in each side thereof one or more attaching clips C. The attaching clips C comprise a straight tension portion 23 which, when the integrated bottom ring and attaching clip unit is attached to the hot top, extends upwardly of the outer side of the casing 10 as clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.

The free end of the tension portion 23 of the attaching clip C which is the upper end as viewed in FIG. 5, is provided with a laterally extending straight bearing portion 24 connected to a curved hook-like portion 2S. The purpose of the portions 24 and 25 will later be explained in detail.

The end of the tension portion 23 of the attaching clip that is opposite to the end connected to the portions 24 and 25 is integral with a substantially right-angled straight pivot portion 26 of a length to extend partially transversely through the bottom ring 13 from the outer side thereof toward the inner side. The inner or free end of the straight pivot portion 26 is provided with an angularly disposed retaining portion 27 which may be integral with the portion 26.

Now reverting to the bottom ring mold or box 18, it will be seen that the inner side of the wall 20 has formed thereon or attached thereto a longitudinally extending inwardly projecting triangular member 28, the upper surface of which provides a vertically inclined or sloping ledge 29. The lower end of the ledge 29 merges into a planular surface 30 formed on a supporting pad 31 extending upwardly from the bottom 21 of the continuous channel mold cavity. The pad 31 is provided at one end of the planular surface 30 with an upstanding rib 32 While at the opposite end of said planular surface 30 the pad 31 has a beveled end surface 33.

Extending upwardly from the bottom 21 of the continuous channel mold cavity and adjacent to the depressed supplemental continuous channel mold cavity 22 is a pedestal 34 of truncated pyramidal configuration. The pedestal 34 slightly below its upper end is provided with a cutaway shoulder 35. Prior to placing moldable refractory material in the box 18 to mold the bottom ring, attaching clips for each side of the bottom ring are suitably positioned in the box 18 as will now be explained with reference to a single attaching clip.

Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen by the broken line illustration of the clip that the portions 24 and 25 thereof rest upon the planular surface of the pad 31 while the tensioned portion 23 of the clip rests upon the sloping ledge 29 of the triangular member 28. It will also be seen that the straight pivot portion 26 of the attaching clip spans the space between the ledge 29 and the shoulder 35 of the pedestal 34 with the retaining portion 27 of the clip resting upon the shoulder of the pedestal 34.

In addition to placing the clips in the continuous channel of the bottom ring mold or box, suitable straight or wavy reinforcing wires or rods 36 or other forms of reinforcing means may be positioned in the mold cavity to extend beneath the pivot portions 26 so as to haveportions thereof overlying thepivot portions 26 of the attaching clips in the completed bottom ring. The reinforcing wires or rods 36l may be separate lengths for, each side of thel bottom ring orthey may be continuous lengths extending completely around and within the bottom ring or they may be replaced by reinforcing means such as shown in-F-IGS. 6 and-7.

After the required number of Vclips `C have been prop erly positioned in the bottom ring mold or box 18 on the ledges 29, the surfaces.V 30. of the pads 31 and the shoulders 35 ofl the pedestals,` 341 and the reinforcing means have been placed properly in the box, the moist refractory material from which the ring is molded is positioned in the box 18 intheusual manner to mold the ring therein andwith the clips integrated with the ring. When the molded ring is stripped from the ring box 18 it, together with the clips, isthenplaced ontova dryingvplate and baked in the usual manner.

It will be seen that the completed molded refractory bottom ring of FIG. 3l Will be provided in its upper surface 14 with depressions 37 formed by the pads 31. Also the ring will have openings. or holes 38 therein extending downwardly from the horizontal surface 14 and formed by the pedestals 34 and providing interior cavities in the ring. In addition, the outer sidesv of the bottom ring will have triangular shaped recesses 39 formed therein bythe members 28 and said recesses will include vertically inclined supporting ledges 4Gv constituting the hypotenuse of the recesses 39 and vertically extending end Walls 41 constituting the bases ofthe recesses.

The straight tension portions 23 of the clips overlie and are supported by the ledges. 40 ofthe recesses 39 while the straight bearing portions Z4 and the hook-like portions '25 of the clips will be located in the depressions 37 and supported` by the bottoms thereof.

The straight pivot portions 26 of the clips extend horizontally transversely inwardly of the bottom ring and the retaining portions 27 thereof are disposed horizontally at the bottom of the holes or openings 38, see FIG. 3. The clips can be rocked from the inoperative position shown in full lines in- FIG. 31 to a vertical operative position as shown in full lines in FIGS. 4 and. 5 and as indicated in broken lines in FIG. 3. This rocking movement of the clips causes the` pivot portions26 thereof to rotate within the ring and move the retaining portions 27 of the clips from a substantially horizontal position, as indicated in FIG. 3, to aV substantially vertical position as indicated in FIG. 5.

When the clips are rocked from the inoperative full line position of FIG. 3 to the operative vertical position they can be moved laterally of the outer side of the bottom ring and axially of the pivot portions 26 of the clips a slight distance and until the retaining portions 27 of the clips contact the wall of the hole or opening 38. It will be seen that the retaining potrions 2 7 of the clips function to prevent separation `of the clips from the bottom ring, both when the clips are in inoperative and operative postiions or any intermediate position.

It may be assumed for descriptive purposes that the completed integrated bottom` ring and clip unit is a rectangular unit for use with a rectangular hot top and that each side of thering is provided with one or more clips. Until the bottom ring is applied to a hot top the clips thereof remain in the inoperative full line position of FIG. 3 wherein they are entirely located inwardly of the plane of the outer sides of the bottom ring due to the recesses 39 and dpressions 37. Consequently until the ring is. attached to the hot top the clips do not interfere with the handling and shipping of the ring. When the ring is ready to be used it is placed upon the bottom ledge of the hot top casing in the usual manner.

Assuming the wiper strips are not integralwith the ring said strips are inserted between the ring and the casing in the customary Way aswill be well understood. Then the straight bearing portion 24 and hookportion 25 of the clips are raised out of the depressions 37 by a suitable tool and the clip is pulled outwardly and laterally of the outer side of the ring beyond the outwardly flared edge of the wiper strips, after whichvthe clips are rotated to a vertical position so they can be slipped into the slots of the wiper strips.

At this tim-e the portions 2S of the clips are in linewith the openings of t-he clip bushings 42 mounted in. the casing .'10 of the hot top. The clips are then pushed, or tapped into full operative position relative to the Casing. This causes the hook portions 25 of the clips toV ride up and over the shoulder 42a of the bushings and into the latter. The riding up and over the shoulder by the hook portions 25 of the clips momentarily deforrns the portions 24, 25 and the adjacent end of the portion 23 of the clips until the hook portion 25 has passed the shoulder 42a of the bushings and is bearing on-the interior of the bushings. The deformed portions of theclips as just referred to then spring back to normal and the hook portion 25 is locked in place in the bushings 42 behind the shoulder 42a thereof while the bearing portion 24 of the clips bears against the shoulder 4241 of the bushings and supports the bottom ring rrn-ly in position against the bottom ledge of the casing. After the bottom ring has been attached to the lower end of the casing should a substantial vertical load be exerted on the bottom ring the portions 2,4 and 25 of the clips will not pull out of the bushings. Any such substantial vertical load acting through the tension portions 23 of the clips will tend to deform the portions 24 and 25 thereof and if carried sufficiently far will cause the end of the portions 25 to move to a position where it engages the inner side of the shoulders 42a of the bushings so as to positively resist any tendency of the hook portions 24 of the clips to pull out of the bushings.

If the bottom ring is provided with the one piece wiper strip that tightly interiits the periphery of the ring, such as the construction shown in the Urmetz and Carpenter application Serial No. 815,852, tiled May 26, 1959, now abandoned, the clips will be rotated during the application of the ring tol the hot top into a vertical position within the vertical portion and the outwardly ared portion of the wiper strip and into a position where the hook portions 25 thereof can be pushed or tapped into the bushings 42.

As will be seen from` the foregoing description, the horizontal pivot portions 26 of the clips extend at all times substantially perpendicular to the plane ofthe outer periphery of the ring. In order to prevent any likelihood of the clips pulling out of the ring should the latter become cracked in a plane Containing the clips and particularly the portions 26 thereof, the reinforcing means 36 should be embedded in the ring intermediate the pivot portions 26 of the clips and the planular surface 14 of the ring and in close proximity to or contact with the pivot portions 26.

The reinforcing means 36 may take the form of lengths of straight or wavy Wire 43 embedded in the ring 13 and looped about the pivot portions 26 of the clips as shown in FIG. 6.

Another form of reinforcing means whichl may be embedded in the bottom ring 13 is illustrated in FIG. 7 and consists of lengths of perforated metal tape 44 embedded on edge in the bottom rings 13 with the pivot portions 26 of the clips extending through the openings orrperforations in the tape.

l'nl additionrto the reinforcing means explicitly illustrated and described herein, other forms of reinforcing means can be used so long as said means allow the pivot portions 26 of the clips to rotate. Any of such reinforcing means functions so that the clips cannot be pulled out of the ring vertically should the ring crack under any probable load to which the clips might be subjected.

As already explained, the clips operate from recesses formed inthe outer sides of the ring and located inwardly of the planes of the outer sides. Consequently the clips need not have any portion located beyond the planes of the outer sides of the ring and as a result the over-all width of the ring can be wider than is the case where separate attaching clips are employed. The advantage of the wider ring is that the space between the outer side of the ring and the inner wall of the ingot mold is substantially reduced in width and therefore a better seal can be obtained between the hot top and the ingot mold by the wiper strips during the pouring of the molten metal into the mold.

inasmuch as the clips of the integrated bottom ring and attaching clip unit do not extend around the bottom of the ring and are structurally integrated with the ring the clips cannot be knocked loose when the hot tops are being set into the ingot molds. Therefore the incidence of dropped or loosened rings is substantially reduced.

Although specific forms of the integrated bottom ring and attaching clip unit have been illustrated and described herein, it will be understood that other forms thereof embodying the invention can be used which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An integrated single use refractory bottom ring and attaching clip unit for a reusable composite hot top having a metal casing and a refractory lining; said unit comprising a refractory bottom ring having a planar upper surface portion and outer and inner sides separated transversely of the ring substantially the same distance as the combined thickness of the casing and lining of the hot top at the lower end thereof, said ring interiorly thereof and intermediate its inner and outer sides being provided with a cavity therein below said upper surface portion thereof, and a wire attaching clip for securing the ring to the lower end of the hot top casing including a straight pivot portion extending transversely of the ring from said cavity to the outer side of said ring and rotatably embedded in said ring, said pivot portion having on its 'end within said cavity in said ring retaining means movable with said pivot portion, said pivot portion at the outer side of said ring having a straight tension attaching portion extending therefrom substantially at a right angle thereto and provided at its free end with a hook adapted to engage in a recess in the casing of the hot top when the tring is secured to the lower end thereof, said attaching clip being swingable on the axis of the embedded pivot portion thereof from an inoperative position wherein said attaching portion extends longitudinally of the outer side of the ring to an operative position wherein said attaching portion extends substantially vertically.

2. An integrated single use refractory bottom ring and attaching clip unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivot portion of the attaching clip which is rotatably movably embedded in said ring is also embedded therein to have linear movement while said retaining means on the end of said pivot portion within said cavity is engageable with the wall defining the said cavity to limit the amplitude of the linear movement of said pivot portion.

3. An integrated single use refractory bottom ring and attaching clip unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said cavity in said ring extends downwardly of the ring from said planar upper surface portion thereof.

4. An integrated single use refractory bottom ring and attaching clip unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said ring is provided with a recess in an opening to the outer side thereof and extending longitudinally of the ring from said pivot portion of the attaching clip a distance substantially lequal to the length of the attaching portion of the clip and in which recess the attaching portion of the clip is located prior to the ring being attached to the lower end of a hot top.

5. An integrated single use refractory bottom ring and attaching clip unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said retaining means on the end of said pivot portion within said cavity is integral with said pivot portion and extends angularly therefrom.

6. An integrated single use refractory bottom ring and attaching clip unit as defined in claim 1 wherein the outer side of said ring is provided with a recess extending longitudinally of the ring from said pivot portion of the attaching clip, said recess being substantially in the shape of a right angle triangle with the base thereof extending vertically of the outer side of the ring and adjacent the axis of said pivot portion of the attaching clip while the hypotenuse of the recess is upwardly vertically inclined and provides a ledge suporting the attaching portion of the attaching clip when the latter is in inoperative position while said base provides a vertical ledge against which the attaching portion engages when said attaching clip is in its operative or raised position.

7. An integrated single use refractory bottom ring and attaching clip unit as defined in claim 4 wherein said pivot portion of said attaching clip which is rotatably movably embedded in said ring is also embedded therein to have linear movement while said retaining means on the end of said pivot portion within said cavity is engageable with the wall defining said cavity to limit the amplitude of the linear movement of the pivot portion.

8. An integrated single use refractory bottom ring and attaching clip unit as defined in claim 6 wherein said planar upper surface portion of said ring at the apex of said triangular recess and at the outer side of the ring is provided with a recess and extending downwardly from said upper surface and open to the outer side of the ring and in which is located the hook at the free end of the attaching portion of the attaching clip when the latter is in lowered inoperative position.

9. An integrated single use refractory bottom ring and attaching clip unit as defined in claim 6 wherein said pivot portion of said attaching clip which is rotatably embedded in said ring is also embedded therein to have linear movement while said retaining means on the end of said pivot portion and within said cavity in said ring is engageable with the wall defining said cavity to limit the amplitude of the linear movement of said pivot portion.

10. An integrated single single use refractory bottom ring and attaching clip unit as defined in claim 1 wherein reinforcing means extending longitudinally of the ring is embedded in said ring below said planar upper surface portion thereof and has a portion overlying and in close proximity to said pivot portion of said attaching clip.

11. An integrated single use refractory bottom ring and attaching clip unit as defined in claim 10 wherein said reinforcing means has a loop through which said pivot portion of said attaching clip extends.

12. An integrated single use refractory bottom ring and attaching clip unit as defined in claim 10 wherein said reinforcing means is of strip form and is provided with an opening through which said pivot portion of said attaching clip extends.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,484,423 Thompson Feb. 19, 1924 1,552,246 Thompson Sept. l, 1925 1,794,840 Egler Mar. 3, 1931 1,892,464 Haws Dec. 27, 1932 2,301,101 Welshaus Nov. 3, 1942 2,629,152 Milburn Feb. 24, 1953 2,741,816 White Apr. 17, 1956 

